Wrapping machine



July 21., 1936. R. c. WEDGE WRAPPING MACHINE s snets-shee 1 Filed May 6,1955 INVENTOR /POBERT 06E BY ATTORNEY `luly 2l, 1936. R. c. WEDGEWRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 )WHHJMIIIIIGIIII lllv July 21, 1936. R C, WEDGE 2,048,042

WRAPP ING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENToR -AOBERTCW606i ATroRNEY Patented July 21, 1936 APPING MACHINE Robert C. Wedge,Albert Lea, Minn.

Application May 6, 1935, Serial No. 19,933

22 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for wrapping relatively loose,irregular products such as plants, shrubs, bushes, etc., and while theinvention is capable of use in several arts and for various purposes itis primarily designed for wrapping nursery plant stock that is to beshipped or stored until planted, and for that reason and for sake ofconvenience will therefore hereinafter be referred to and described as aplant or nursery stock wrapping machine only. In the merchandising ofplant stock it is found that invariably a considerable lapse of timeoccurs after the growing stock is removed from the ground and until itis shipped, sold, and replanted by the ultimate purchaser. During thisinterval, however, the stock must be maintained healthy and fertile, soas to not impair or retard its growing condition when replanted. Tomaintain the desired plant life condition it is Q0 necessary to keep theroot portions moist and (in cold weather) warm, and it is thereforecustomary to Wrap the root portion in moss or other moisture retainingmaterial. To further insure retention of the moisture content thepacking is enclosed in a moisture proofed cover, usually a tarred paperprepared for this purpose, and this cover is secured by cord, clips,paste, or other means.

To my knowledge the only means heretofore employed in thus wrappingnursery stock has been the manual or hand method, i. e., the operatorplaces a sheet of the wrapping paper on a table, then after spreading asuitable amount of packing material on the paper, places the root end ofthe stock in the material, and then proceeds to roll the packagetogether so that the cover encloses the packing and roots, after whichthe package is tied or otherwise secured and has the general appearanceas indicated in Fig. 3 of the present drawings.

The manual method of wrapping plant stock ju'st referred to, while quiteuniversally employed, is unsatisfactory from several viewpoints. In thefirst place the method is very slow and does not produce uniform orentirely satisfactory results. Secondly it is impossible at least inmany instances and where irregular root conditions prevail to produce apackage that is suillciently compact and tight to protect the roots andmaintain the proper moisture conditions thereabout.

With the use of my machine, however, the

operation is not only greatly speeded up, butv the package is formedunder motive power, thus insuring uniformity, compactness, andtightness,

and effects still further economy in that a smaller piece or sheet ofthe outer wrapper may be used than would be required in hand wrapping.

In the accompanying drawings, which illus- 5 trate a preferredembodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine, with various parts inreadiness to form a plant package, the right hand end of the machine ashere shown being referred to for sake of convenience 10 as the frontend.

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the machine as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a plant package as formed in and by themachine, a part of the 15 cover paper being broken away for purpose ofillustration.

Fig. 4 is an elevation similar to Fig. 1 but with the apron frame movedforward into operative position. 20

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation through the wrappingmechanism but in an operative condition advanced from that shown in Fig.4.

Referring to the drawings more particularly 25 and by referencecharacters, B designates a frame work of a table or bench, having a top'I upon which is performed the wrapping operation. The table structureincludes a shelf 8, under the top 1, upon which is mounted a drivingmotor 9 30 -and a speed reduction unit I 0 through which power istransmitted to a shaft II. The shaft II operates through a sprocketchain I2 and suitable sprocket gears I3 to drive a transverselyextending shaft I 4 journaled to the table frame 35 immediately belowthe top 1. At one end the shaft I4 is provided with a spur gear I5 forintermittent driving engagement with a spur pinion I6 which is adaptedto be swung into and out of operative engagement withthe gear as 40illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. The shaft I4 is p preferably journaled inbearing brackets I'I secured to the table, and which brackets haveupward extensions in which are journaled the ends of a shaft or pipe I8that is also parallel with but 4 slightly spaced above the top T.

'I'he spur pinion I6 is secured upon one end of a shaft I 9 that isjournaled at its ends in arcuately curved side arms 20 of what may begenerally described as a swingable apron frame 50 2| which is pivotallysecured to the table frame 6 as at 22.

In addition to members I9 and 20 the frame 2| includes a rotatable shaft23 and a cross bar 24 which not only serves as a manipulating han- 55Cal dle butl also serves to rigidly connect the arms 20 so that theywill 4swing in unison'froxn the centers 22. The cross bar 24 may alsorest upon a stop such as an upward projection of the table ieg (seeFig. 1) to limit the rearward movement of the apron frame and support itin proper initial operative position.

A flexible apron 25 extends over the top of the table as shown in Figs.1 and 2, and one end of this apron has its edge secured to the rollershaft I9 so that it may be wound thereabout when the shaft is rotated.This apron ls preferably made of heavy durable canvas or duck and it maybest be secured to the roller shaft I9 by extending in through alongitudinal slot therein, and then fixed to a heavy wire or bar withinthe shaft, which is hollow as shown in Fig. 5, to thereby positivelysecure and prevent accidental removal of vthe apron. Should the apronbecome suilciently worn or damaged it may ,be readily substituted by anew one by removing the shaft I9 and then slipping `the apron endlongitudinally outward through the shaft slot, whereupon a new apron maybe resecured by a reverse operation.

The opposite end of the apron is secured to and wound upon a roller 2Bjournaled in the table frame 6, as at 21, and one end of the roller hasa pulley 28 over which operates the suspension cord 29 of a weight 30.The cord or rope 29 is of such length that when the weight 30 `reachesand 'rests upon the floor the apron 25 will be in the slack positionshown in Fig. 1. As soon as tension is applied to the apron, however, soas to roll it` of from the roller 26 the weight will become operative toresist such unrolling action and keep constant tension on the apron.

When the machine is in use the motor 9 and the driven parts I0, II, I2,I3, I4, and Iii are moving continuously, and before the package is to bewrapped the apron frame 2| is in its rearward position, the weight 30 isresting on. the floor, and the apron 25 is in the slack position shownin Figs. 1 and 2. It should be noted that the apron extends over theroller I8 and passes over the shaft 22 to the shaft or roller I 9.

The operator, standing at the rear end of.' the machine, now places arectangular sheet of cover paper 3| upon the apron 25 and at the placeshown in Figs. 1 and 2. 'I'he front edge of the paper should projectjust ,over the roller I8 to secure the best results, and to the oppositeedge portion of the sheet is applied an adhesive or glue, such asindicated at 32, unless other securing means is to be employed.

The packing material 33 is now spread upon the rear part of the apronand the root end of the plant stock is placed upon the material sospread, the top or branch ends projecting laterally outwardly, as shown.Thereupon the operator grasps the cross bar 24 with one hand and swingsthe frame 2| over and forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 4, usingthe other hand if necessary to initially assist in the enfoldingmovement. The packing, stock, and enclosing apron portion will thenassume the positions shown in said figure. The pinion I6 is now inoperative engagement with the spur gear I5, and the shafts ing thepacking material closely lnabout the roots. When the desired maximumresistance is reached the shaft I9 continues to rotate but as it cannotfurther restrict the unit to be wrapped it revolves the unit within theapron 5 loop and pulls the apron rearwardly from the roller 26, and indoing so it also actuates into the loop the paper 3| which consequentlybecomes wrapped about the unit as shown in Fig. 5, at which time theadhesive 32 will secure the bundle in its constricted condition. Thebundle rolling action may be continued until the apron supply reachesits end or the weight 30 reaches its uppermost limit, at which time itis necessary to slightly raise the frame 2I to release the gearconnection. And a continued movement of the frame 2| rearwardly will ofcourse discharge or release the bundle which can then be removed in theform shown in Fig. 3, although it is usually desirable to tuck'in thelower end of the wrapper, as indicated at 35.

'I'he weight 30 now goes into action to rewind the apron back upon theroller 26 and oi from the rollerI 3, whereupon the machine is inreadiness for the next wrapping operation.

Itis understood that suitable modifications mayy be made in thestructure as disclosed, provided such modications come within the spiritand scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustratedand described my in- 30 vention, what I claim to be new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a horizontaltable support, an apron slidable longitudinally upon the support 35 andupon which the object to be wrapped is placed, means for looping overthe apron to inclose the object, and means for actuating the apron torestrict the loop thereof and thereby compress the object, said lastmentioned means being operative to slide the apron on the support when apredetermined degree of compression has been reached.

2. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a tablehaving a surface supporting a longitudinally movable apron upon oneportion of which is placed'an object to be wrapped and upon anotherportion of which is placed a cover sheet to inclose the article, meansfor looping the apron about the object, and means 50 for moving theapron longitudinally on the table surface'to convey the cover sheet intothe apron loop and wrap it about the object.

3. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitablesupported longituvdinally movable apron upon one portion of whichkmovement to pull the apron from the loop to squeeze the object, andoperative upon advanced` movement to pull the apron longitudinally overthe support and about the object to impart a rolling action thereto andmove vsaid cover sheet into the apron loop and about the object.

4. The method of Wrapping a plant stock or the like which comprisesdistributing packing material on a longitudinally movable apron, placingthe root end of the stock on the distributed layer of packing material,looping the apron to enfold the packing material about the stock,pulling the apron Ato apply squeezing pressure to the material about thestock to compress the same, rolling the resultant unit about asubstantially.

stationary axis while under squeezing pressure, and then applying andsecuring a cover sheet to the unit during the rolling movement and whilestill subjected to the squeezing pressure previously applied. v

5. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitablehorizontal support, an apron extending over the top ofthe support, aroller at one end of the support and upon which one end of the apron iswound, a swingable frame at the other end of the support, a rollerjournaled in said frame and having the other end of the apron securedthereto whereby when the frame is swung over toward the first mentionedroller it will form a loop in the apron, and power actuated means forrotating the frame roller to constrict said apron loop and draw theapron from the first mentioned roller.

6. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitablehorizontal support,

an apron extending over the top of the support, v

a roller at one end of the support and upon which one end of the apronis wound, a swingable frame at the other end of the support, a rollerjournaled in said frame and having the other end of the apron securedthereto whereby when the frame is swung over toward the rst mentionedroller it will form a loop in the apron, and power actuated means forrotating the frame roller to constrict said apron loop and draw theapron from the first mentioned roller, -said rst mentioned roller havingmeans tending to resist unrolling of the apron therefrom.

7. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitablehorizontal support, a frame pivotally secured to the rear end of thesupport for swinging movement forwardly, a motor, a roller journaled inthe frame, means operative upon swinging the frame forwardly toestablish driving connection between the roller and said motor, and anapron extending over the support with one end attached to the roller, soas to be wound thereabout under power from the motor when the frame isin its forward posi tion.

8. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitablehorizontal support, a frame pivotally secured to the rear end of thesupport for swinging movement forwardly, a motor, a roller `iournaled inthe frame, means operative upon swinging the frame forwardly toestablish driving connection between the roller and said motor, an apronextending over the support with one end attached to the roller, so as towind thereupon under motor power when the frame is in its forwardposition.

9. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitablehorizontal support, a frame pivotally secured to the rear end of thesupport for swinging movement forwardly, a motor, a roller journaled inthe frame, means operative upon swinging the frame to a predeterminedforward position to establish driving connection between the roller andsaid motor, and an apron extending over the support with one endattached to the roller, said support and frame having a pair ofcooperating cross shafts between which overlapped portions of the apronpass when the frame is in its forward position.

10. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitablehorizontal support, a frame pivotally secured to the support forswinging movements to forward and rear positions, a. roller mounted inone end of the frame, an apron extending over the support with one endattached to the roller, a power driven gear member disposed at one sideof the support, and a second gear member ,associated with said rollerand adapted to intermesh with the first gear member when the frame is inits forward position.

11. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitablehorizontal support, a frame pivotally secured to the support forswinging movements to forward and rear positions, a roller mounted inthe frame to swing therewith, an apron extending over the support withone end attached to the roller, a power driven gear member disposed atone side of the support, and a second gear member associated with saidroller and adapted to intermesh with the first gear member when theframe is in its forward position, said support having arroller at itsforward end to which the forward end portion of the apron is secured,and means tending to rotate the last mentioned roller to releasably windthe apron thereon.

12. A wrapping machine of the character described comprising a suitablehorizontal support, a frame pivotally secured to the support forswinging movements to forward and rear posiions, a roller mounted toswing with the frame, an apron extending over the support with one endattached to the roller, a power driven gear member disposed at one sideof the support, and a second gear member associated with said roller andadapted to intermesh with the first gear member when the frame is in itsforward position, said support having a roller at its forward end towhich the forward end portion of the apron is secured, and a pulley,cord, and weight associated with the last mentioned roller to releasablywind the apron thereon.

13. A wrapping machine comprising a support, an apron extending over thetop of the support and longitudinally slidable thereon, a cross memberdisposed transversely of the support intermediate the ends thereof andunder the apron, a roller near one end of the support and to which oneend of the apron is secured for Winding thereon, means tending to drawthe apron over the support and unwind it from the roller, means formounting the roller whereby it may be shifted forwardly to a positionadjacentv the cross member so as to form an enclosing loop in the apron,and means operative upon the roller reaching its forward position forrotating the same to constrict said apron loop.

14. A wrapping machine comprising a support, an apron extending over thetop of the support and longitudinally slidable thereon, a cross memberdisposed transversely of the support intermediate the ends thereof andunder the apron, a roller near one end of the support and to which oneend of the apron is secured for winding thereon, means tending to drawthe apron over the support and unwind it from the roller, a shiftableframe movably mounting the roller on the support, and means operativeupon shifting the frame to a predetermined position for establishing apower connection to the roller.

15. A wrapping machine comprising a support, an apron extending over thetop of the support and longitudinally slidable thereon, a framemovablymounted on the support, a roller in the frame and attached to oneend of the apron whereby the latter may be wound thereon, said framebeing shiftable to move the roller over the apron proper to produce anenclosing loop therein, a power actuated driving member carried by thesupport, a driven member associated with the roller, said driving anddriven members being operatively connected when the trame is shifted tothe position producing said apron loop so as to rotate said roller andby winding th -apron thereon to constrict said loop.

16. A wrapping machine comprising a support, an lapron extending overthe top of the support and longitudinally vslidable thereon, a framemovably mounted on the support, a roller in the fname and attached toone end of the apron whereby the latter may be wound thereon, said framebeing shiftable to move the roller over the apron proper to produce anenclosing loop therein, a power actuated driving member carried by thesupport, a driven member associated with the roller, said driving anddriven members being operatively connected when the frame is shifted tothe position producing said apron loop so as to rotate' said roller andby winding the apron thereonvto constrict said loop, and means operativeupon reversing the movement of the frame to separate said driving anddriven members to release the power applied tol the apron.

17. A wrapping machine comprising a support, an apron extending over thetop of the support and longitudinally slidable thereon, a frame movablymounted on the support, a roller in the frame and attached to one end ofthe ajpron whereby the latter may be wound thereon, said frame beingshiftable to move the roller over ythe apron proper to produce anenclosing loop therein, a power actuated driving member carried by thesupport, a driven member associated with the roller, said driving anddriven members being operatively connected v when the frame is shiftedto the position producing said apron loop so as to rotate said rollerand by winding the apron thereon to constrict said loop, and meansoperative upon reversing the movements of the frame to release saidpower application to the apron roller and open said apron loop.

18. A wrapping machine comprising a support, an apron extending over thetop of the support and longitudinally slidable thereon, a frame movablymounted on the support, a roller in the frame and attached to one end ofthe apron whereby the latter may be wound thereon', said frame beingshiftable to move the roller over the apron proper to produce an,enclosingv loop therein, a pow-er actuated driving member carried bythe support, a driven member associated with the roller, said drivingand driven members being operatively connected when the frame is shiftedto the position producing said apron loop so as to rotate said rollerand by winding the apron'thereon to constrict said loop, and

means operative upon reversing themovement of the frame to open the loopand unwind the apron from said roller.

19. A wrapping machine comprising a substantially horizontal support, across member extending o-ver the support intermediate its ends, an apronextending longitudinally over the support and over the cross member, aroller at the fore end of the support to which one end of the apron issecured, yieldable means rotating the support to releasably wind theapron thereon, a roller at the rear end of the support and to which theother end of the apron is secured, a frame shiftabi;r connecting therear roller to the support and permitting said roller to be swung to apositionl adiacent the cross member to form an. enveloping loop in theapron, and means automatically connectable with the rear roller torotate the same when the apron loop forming position thereof is reachedto thereby constrict the loop and draw the apron rearwardly from theforward roller.

20. A wrapping machine comprising a substantially horizontal support, across member extending over the support intermediate its ends, an apronextending longitudinally over the support and over the cross member, aroller at the fore end of the support to which one end of the apron issecured, yieldable means rotating the support to releasably wind theapron thereon, a roller at the rear end of rthe support and to which theother end of the apron is secured, a frame shiftably connecting the rearroller to the support the apron rearwardly from the' forward roller,

said rotating meansbeing rendered inactive when the frame is shifted toopen thev apron loop.

21. A Wrapping machine comprising a substantially horizontal support, across member extending over the support intermediate its ends, an apronextending longitudinally over the support and over the cross member, aroller at the fore end of the support to which one end of the apron issecured, yieldable means rotating the support to releasably Wind theapron thereon, a roller at the rear end of the support and to which theother end of the apron is secured, a frame shiftably connecting the rearroller to the support and permitting said roller to be swung to aposition adjacent the cross member to form an enveloping loop in theapron, and means automatically connectable with the rear roller torotate the same when the apron loop forming position thereof is Y engagethe apron passing from the rear roller and cooperating with the crossmember of the support in the forming of said apron loop.

22. A wrapping machine comprising a substantially horizontal support, across member extending over the support intermediate its ends, an apronextending longitudinally over the support and over the cross member, aroller at the fore end of the support to which one end of the apron issecured, yieldable means rotating the support to releasably wind theapron thereon, a roller at the rear end of the support and to which theother end of the apron is secured, a frame shiftably connecting the rearroller to the support and permitting said roller to be swung to aposition adjacent the cross member to form an enveloping loop in theapron, and means automatically connectable With the rear roller torotate the same `when the apron loop forming position thereof is ROBERTC. WEDGE.

